Karina Becker, Klaus Dörre and Yalcin Kutlu
The thesis of our paper is that the industrial dispute articulates a counter-movement against the progressive capitalist Landnahme of care work. What is ostensibly a standard wage…
Abstract
Purpose
The thesis of our paper is that the industrial dispute articulates a counter-movement against the progressive capitalist Landnahme of care work. What is ostensibly a standard wage conflict proves, on closer scrutiny, to be a dispute that contains a transformative social dynamic. It cannot be conceived either as a traditional class struggle or as a movement against the market’s unreasonable demands. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors draw on a qualitative survey in the social and childcare services (expert interviews, groups discussions, expert hearings) and two partial-studies on the renewal of trade unions in East and West Germany (54 expert and 46 employee interviews).
Findings
Professional pride along with confidence in their own professional skills collides with the market- and competition-driven devaluation of the work of entire groups of employees. Used correctly, a putative professional consciousness can transform into a source of resilience, protest and collective engagement, which the authors interpret as counter-Landnahme. A consciousness rooted in professionality develops into a subjective power resource, the activation of which simultaneously strengthens trade unions’ power to effectuate change.
Originality/value
In the case of the childcare workers, this movement is rooted in a newly awakened consciousness as skilled labourers. What at first appears as a wage conflict is in fact, upon closer inspection, a conflict loaded with transformative potential. After all, any greater social recognition of this occupational group will naturally, at least by tendency, prompt a discussion concerning the modes of financing public reproductive activities.
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Karina Goransson and Anna-Sara Fagerholm
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a visual perspective can be applied to strategic communication research. First, the term visual communication will be examined from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a visual perspective can be applied to strategic communication research. First, the term visual communication will be examined from various perspectives with an attempt to develop a foundation for this new academic territory. Second, this study summarises how visual approaches are applied in strategic communication research during 2005-2015, this is done by a literature review including an overall content analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to explore how visual approaches can be applied to strategic communication research, the study started with a literature review by examining the term visual communication from various perspectives. The second step was to do a brief content analysis in order to provide a detailed pattern of theoretical visual approaches in strategic communication research published in scientific journals in the field of strategic communication 2005-2015. A qualitative coding scheme was developed based on the classification of visual approaches in communication research by Barnhurst et al. (2004) and Martin (2011).
Findings
The findings of this study not only support previous research indicating that visual approaches in communication research are increasing; the study also points in the direction of that visual approaches in the research field of strategic communication has slightly emerged during 2005-2015.
Research limitations/implications
This study summarises how visual approaches are applied in strategic communication research during 2005-2015.
Originality/value
This study can provide important knowledge about an innovative visual perspective in strategic communication research.
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Katrina McNally, Karina Lovell, Filippo Varese and Amy Boorn
There is a significant gap in training on trauma-informed care and routine enquiry into trauma for mental health practitioners in England (McNally et al., 2023). Best practice…
Abstract
Purpose
There is a significant gap in training on trauma-informed care and routine enquiry into trauma for mental health practitioners in England (McNally et al., 2023). Best practice suggests that training should be provided by mental health trusts in England and co-produced with individuals who have lived experience of trauma (Trevillion et al., 2022). The purpose of this paper is to explore whether co-produced routine trauma enquiry training increases staff confidence within secondary mental health services.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used a mixed-method evaluation, which included brief questionnaires administered before and after the intervention, as well as at a two-month follow-up period, to assess staff confidence and knowledge and whether these were sustained over time. Participants were also interviewed using a semi-structured approach, and the data were analysed using framework analysis.
Findings
The intervention improved knowledge in several areas: when to ask about trauma, how to ask, how to respond to a disclosure, how to bring the person back to baseline (within their window of tolerance) and how professionals can care for themselves following a disclosure. Participants reported that the co-produced training increased their confidence in these areas. The intervention benefited all participants, enhancing self-confidence in asking about trauma in a trauma-informed way (routine trauma enquiry), with this increased confidence sustained over the follow-up period. Participants unanimously felt that this training should be mandatory for all staff. One emerging theme highlighted the importance of the service user’s perspective and the powerful impact participants found it to have.
Research limitations/implications
This paper demonstrates the importance of trauma-informed routine trauma enquiry training for mental health staff. It also has implications for future research, as further studies may be needed to explore why trauma-informed care and approaches are not being implemented, by analysing the views of both clinical mental health practitioners and key informants.
Originality/value
This paper advances the research on trauma-informed care and its implementation in secondary mental health services in England.
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Gintare Dagyte-Kavoliune, Karina Adomaviciute and Sigitas Urbonavicius
The aim of this study is to assess the direct and indirect impact of the prominence dimensions of fit between a brand and a cause on consumer intentions to purchase cause-related…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to assess the direct and indirect impact of the prominence dimensions of fit between a brand and a cause on consumer intentions to purchase cause-related products by considering cases with more versus less positive attitudes towards a brand and a higher versus lower social cause affinity.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on data obtained via a survey of 403 respondents in Lithuania. A between-subjects study design with different brands and causes was used to identify the role of the differences in brand attitude and cause affinity on the message strength.
Findings
The data analysis has revealed that the specific prominence dimensions of fit (relationship visibility, relationship explicitness, visuals/colours, local attributes) have a direct and indirect impact, via the message strength, on consumer intentions to purchase cause-related products. Additionally, the mediation of the message strength was dependent on attitudes towards a brand but not on cause affinity.
Originality/value
This is the first attempt to contribute to filling the research gap regarding the impact of the prominence dimensions of fit on the intention to purchase a cause-related product. Paying special attention to message strength mediation allowed for the assessment of both the direct and indirect effects of the individual dimensions of fit.
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Anastasiia Laskovaia, Younggeun Lee, Karina Bogatyreva and Pol Herrmann
Entrepreneurial passion lies at the foundation of the business development process, yet the available evidence is ambiguous regarding its effects on firm performance. In this…
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurial passion lies at the foundation of the business development process, yet the available evidence is ambiguous regarding its effects on firm performance. In this study, we examine the entrepreneurial passion puzzle by looking into decision-making mechanisms underlying its potential to increase business performance outcomes. Based on the literature on passion and effectuation theory, we link harmonious passion to firm performance through effectual behavioral logic.
Design/methodology/approach
To empirically test the theoretical model, we performed bootstrapping-based mediation, ordinary least squares moderated regression and moderated mediation analysis based on survey data collected from 105 executives of US firms.
Findings
We found that harmonious passion indirectly increases firm performance through effectuation. The direct link between harmonious passion and firm performance is insignificant. Moreover, the proposed mediation model is strengthened when the executives attain high levels of entrepreneurial experience.
Research limitations/implications
This study is not without limitations. First, a cross-sectional data set was adopted as the empirical setting of our research. Hence, further studies could benefit from applying longitudinal research designs. Second, a self-reported survey was utilized to measure firm performance. Although such operationalization is widely accepted in management and entrepreneurship studies, objective measures can produce additional insights into focal relationships.
Practical implications
This study provides practical implications for educators, consultants and managers. First, educators should encourage harmonious passion and teach effectual decision-making through various educational programs. Consultants and business practitioners should take similar orientations when organizing training for employees and executives. Finally, managers need to comprehend the motivational types of their employees and promote harmonious passion through appraisal systems and organizational culture.
Originality/value
This research uncovers a mechanism and a boundary condition on the relationship between harmonious passion and performance. The results show the critical moderating role of human capital and the mediating role of effectual decision-making on the passion and performance relationship. The current study contributes to the passion literature by providing a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics between entrepreneurial passion and firm performance.
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Carolina Walger, Karina De Dea Roglio and Gustavo Abib
Human resources (HR) department managers play an important role in the processes of defining and implementing organizational strategies. From this perspective, decisions made by…
Abstract
Purpose
Human resources (HR) department managers play an important role in the processes of defining and implementing organizational strategies. From this perspective, decisions made by HR managers directly influence organizations’ competitiveness. There is a gap in the literature related to decision-making processes by these managers, particularly with respect to the subjective elements involved in them. This paper’s aim is to analyze HR managers’ strategic decision-making processes from the perspective of reflective practice.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative study was conducted based on an analysis of five HR department managers’ strategic decision-making processes.
Findings
The results indicate that reflection-in-action is one possibility for narrowing the gap between action and reflection in management practice, as this could contribute to improving strategic decisions; HR managers’ decisions are delimited by internal and external organizational issues; and these decisions involve intensive information sharing.
Research limitations/implications
The results of this research contribute to extend the existing knowledge on reflection, one of the subjective elements that influences decision-making processes, and which has been identified as a subject in need of research by several authors (Eisenhardt and Zbaracki, 1992; Hambrick, 2007; Langley et al., 1995; Nutt, 2010).
Practical implications
A better understanding of HR managers’ decision-making processes, particularly in the Brazilian context, which other organizations can use as examples of alternative choices for HR departments strategic management. For managers, reflection-in-action facilitates an effective decision-making process, increases self-knowledge, contributes to the processes of individual and organizational learning and improves managers’ global overview of their organizations.
Originality/value
These results represent a development in understanding one of the subjective elements of HR department managers’ decision-making processes – reflection – and should help to improve the results of strategic decisions by these managers and by managers of other organizational departments.
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Karina Hjørringgaard and Poul Houman Houman Andersen
Business strategy issues increasingly concern value realized from supply resources. However, how supply resources are valorized by managerial factions in a strategic issue setting…
Abstract
Purpose
Business strategy issues increasingly concern value realized from supply resources. However, how supply resources are valorized by managerial factions in a strategic issue setting is not sufficiently explored. In organizations operating in complex business contexts, several strategic agendas and supply value perceptions typically coexist. This study aims to explore the process of developing corporate attention towards supply-related strategic issues and how it links to sourcing strategy.
Design/methodology/approach
An explorative longitudinal case study within the food industry is conducted. Data are collected in a four year period. Working physically from the case company made it possible to be close to the company’s actors. The first author participated in 26 formal team meetings ranging from 1.5 h to 3 days long, conducted 28 interviews across managerial levels and functions and participated in informal verbal and written communications.
Findings
This study explores strategizing efforts of organizations and scrutinize consequences of strategic ambiguity for sourcing strategy and supply resources. Furthermore, this study outlines implications for management and theory development.
Research limitations/implications
Since this paper is based on an in-depth single case study, its findings are not empirically generalizable.
Practical implications
This paper suggests that managers should pay stronger attention to constituents’ valuation of supply resources, and how they fit with the different strategic agendas within the firm. By doing so, a more comprehensive supply resource mobilization is possible.
Originality/value
Business strategy research increasingly focuses on the value of supply resources for a buying firm’s business strategy (Kotabe and Murray 2018; Lee and Rammohan 2017; Schiele, Calvi, and Gibbert 2012). In a context where the value obtained from sourcing is gaining increased importance, more organizations link supply policies with corporate strategic goals (Andersen, Ellegaard, and Kragh 2016; Hesping and Schiele 2015; Pardo et al., 2011). However, existing supply chain research does not incorporate an organization’s strategizing efforts, when considering supply resource valuation, and how this can be a source of ambiguity to sourcing strategy. The is the paper’s contribution.
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Enterprising individuals are frequently portrayed as rational agents who maximize their own interests. At the same time, an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises…
Abstract
Purpose
Enterprising individuals are frequently portrayed as rational agents who maximize their own interests. At the same time, an increasing number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) use social responsibility strategies, incorporating collective interests into their business agenda. This study aims to analyze the interplay between the rational and emotional aspects of the entrepreneurial personal identity and address its implications for the socially responsible behavior of businesses by drawing on the literature on entrepreneurial identity, the objectivism (rational egoism) philosophical perspective and the concept of entrepreneurial passion.
Design/methodology/approach
A sample of 333 Russian SMEs is used to test the research hypotheses. The study follows the quantitative research strategy, wherein the main assumptions are examined based on mediation testing techniques.
Findings
The results suggest that entrepreneurs whose personal identities are rooted in objectivism values are less likely to foster culture of social responsibility within their firms. At the same time, their entrepreneurial passion mitigates the negative effect of objectivism on social responsiveness of the venture.
Originality/value
This research enhances the understanding of entrepreneurial personality and can help policymakers promote social responsibility in small and medium businesses, showing that they need to communicate effectively with SMEs’ leaders and align their policies with entrepreneurial values and beliefs.